McClatchy: Lawmakers blame FAA for mass flight cancellations

[babylonsister]

Lawmakers blame FAA for mass flight cancellations
By Dave Montgomery | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2008



WASHINGTON — Outrage over mass cancellations of American Airlines flights spilled into Congress on Thursday as lawmakers blamed regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration for indirectly contributing to the hardships shouldered by thousands of stranded travelers.

Nicholas Sabatini, the FAA's associate administrator for safety, endured relentless questions by members of a Senate subcommittee on aviation, who took turns denouncing "systematic" regulatory failures by the FAA. Several suggested that the cancellations may not have been necessary if the agency had been tougher in the past.

In the past three days, American Airlines has grounded nearly 2,500 flights to repair wiring bundles in the wheel wells of its MD-80 fleet. The repairs were ordered after the FAA toughened its oversight of commercial airlines following allegations that FAA officials in Texas allowed Dallas-based Southwest Airlines to fly potentially unsafe airplanes that were overdue for inspections.

"I don't think there is any question that the FAA has been lax in enforcing safety regulations," Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, said in a telephone interview.

A congressional inquiry that evolved from allegations by FAA whistle-blowers, he said, has prompted FAA regulators "to kick it into higher gear, and the airlines are beginning to dot the I's and cross the T's."

"They could have been doing these inspections over a longer period of time," avoiding the need for the abrupt mass cancellation of flights, Costello said.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/33352.html

[gateley]

1. I blame BUSHCO --

Like every other agency, Bush has cut funds to the FAA -- fewer people to do the job, and from what I've read, those remaining aren't liking the circumstances too much.

And if the economy wasn't so fucked up, maybe the airlines would have kept on top of the inspections instead of looking to cut expenses where they could.

Bush's lap. That's where this belongs.

[gateley]

3. On further fuming...

:grr:

Congress has to take a look in the mirror for APPROVING all the funding cuts.


EDIT: I just sent Congressman Costello an e-mail enlightening him :7.

I got a message saying that since I'm outside of his congressional district, he would be unable to respond.

Now, I don't know if that means he doesn't receive the e-mail at all, or what - but that's just WRONG. :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[jpak]

2. Deregulate the banking system - economic crisis

Under-regulate airlines - economic crisis

Is there a pattern here???

:shrug:

[AzDar]

4. Chaos : Cui Bono?

[aquart]

5. Who did American Airlines piss off?

That was the question that bugged me. Why the sudden need to stop one airline dead?

[butterfly77]

6. Doesn't this remind you of something?

How many days were the Katrina victims stranded?